Real Madrid vs. Valencia: Preview and betting tips

Thursday’s poor football schedule will be spiced up by Real Madrid’s match against Valencia in La Liga. While the home side are chasing leaders Barcelona, the visitors would like to bounce back from the relegation zone. What to expect from the game?

Real have not been doing well since Christmas. Not counting the two cup replacements after extra time, it has won only two of its last seven games in normal time. They are eight points behind first-placed Barcelona with a game to spare.

Valencia needs points too. A couple of years back, the European Cup regular is in the last third of the table, with only a one-point lead on the relegation zone from 14th place in the balanced table.

Real Madrid’s key figures

Real are backed by recent Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, he has netted 13 goals and assisted once so far. But the star of this season is Vinicius, the Brazilian speedster has made 12 appearances and added six assists.

Valencia’s key figures

Veteran Edinson Cavani shines on the away side, the Uruguayan playmaker has netted seven goals and assisted once so far. Talented winger Samuel Lino gets a lot of space, the 22-year-old Brazilian has opened the net four times and assisted on two goals.

The home side rely on a superb attack, with 38 shots they have it second best in the league after Barcelona. Especially at home, they are firing. They have scored more than once at the Santiago Bernabeu on seven of the past nine occasions.

And that’s not at all suited to Valencia, whose until-then quality defensive play stopped working in October. It has kept a clean sheet in only one of its last 12 league games. Since October, it has conceded an average of 1.3 goals per round.

Given Real’s home strength and Valencia’s defensive woes, I think the home side will win. But at the same time, taking into account the negative atmosphere in the White Ballet’s squad, I don’t expect any shooting concert from their side and I expect a maximum of four goals.

Source: LaLiga